Inside a charming three-story house in the suburbs, an eleven-year-old Chinese girl was in the middle of a fashion hurricane. Nevertheless, the girl was quite fetching. Her silky asymmetrical hair was dyed indigo with a fuchsia stripe in it. Around her neck was a golden pendant with a dragon and phoenix in a yin-yang fashion.
Scattered around her bedroom were dozen of outfits. Glancing into her pewter mirror, she studied how an imperial red cheongsam with golden embroidery matched her necklace looked.
There was a slight chuckle from the preteen's doorway. The girl looked up to see her captivating mother, Mulan. Her mother was clothed in a causal outfit though her family's heirloom comb was tucked behind her right ear.
"Fei, I know this Friday's dinner is noteworthy. However, even I've never fussed this much regarding my attire," as her dark eyes took in the chaos of her daughter's room.
Fei looked a bit phased before replying. "But, Mom, it's more then a Veteran's Day dinner! We both already know it's also a surprise proposal party for my elder cousins, Jun and Xiaowei!" she replied in a panicked voice.
"Yes, I know it's a major deal that you're second cousins are about to become engaged. Still, all I'm saying is don't go overboard. It may be a pricey restaurant we're going to. But I want you to be comfortable and not a perfect porcelain doll. Plus, I consider that dress you've got right now would look ideal."
"You honestly think so, Mom?" as her mother stood behind her, looking in the mirror. Her mother embraced her tightly before whispering, "Yes, I do. We'll complement each other quite well. Also, don't expect your father to wear a stuffy suit. We want it to be semi-formal, not overly formal."
The preteen smiled cheerfully, hugging her mother, "Okay, well, I'm elated Dad could get a reservation for Veterans night at this posh restaurant. But, then again, he was your superior when you were both in the military."
"And I couldn't have asked for a better man to lead me," her mother smiled. "Now let's get your room back in order," which took half an hour to complete. Her father came home from his job later.
Shang was still quite handsome and in excellent shape. Even if he wasn't an active member of the military anymore, he did help with the recruiting process while occasionally helping vets with PTSD. "How are my beautiful girls doing today?" he asked calmly as he entered their home. His wife greeted him with a long kiss.
"We're doing wonderfully, Shang. Your daughter survived a fashion hurricane. So everything is set for dinner on Friday."
"That's good. I hope everything goes off without a hitch. Even with the discount for veterans, it will still hurt our wallets a bit."
"But it will be well worth it, won't it?" Mulan teased him, to which he kissed her again. Finally, it was Friday evening. The two families arrived at the posh restaurant fifteen minutes before their seven pm reservation. They're shown to the enormous room they'd rented out.
Everyone was dressed semi-formal. However, they did wear something that indicated their veterans' status. Fei noted there were only three other tables in the spacious room. She also detected the one nearest to them was an elderly white couple. Likely early seventies. She could also feel their outrage about being near an enormous Asian family in waves.
Fei whispered to her parents about the couple. They, too, noticed the unmistakable looks of burning hatred in their eyes. However, the family preferred to disregard them and enjoy their dinner. Fei's older second cousins became engaged just before dessert was served.
While the other families at the other two tables clapped and shouted congratulations, the white couple seemed to seethe with rage. Then, the couple started loudly talking about how disgusting it was this fine establishment would let people like them into the restaurant. And how they shouldn't even be here because tonight was for veterans only.
This, of course, pissed off both of the families. They ripped into the couple for both their racism and homophobia. How the wife wasn't a veteran herself and that the couple disgraced what it meant to be a veteran. That those who'd served should model empathy, compassion, and integrity. To inspire others and be good people. How people shouldn't serve to have a reason to be entitled.
Moreover, a true veteran doesn't ask for thanks for their service. They instead bear it to honor those who weren't there anymore. And the only ones who are disgusting are those who served for the wrong reasons and didn't understand true honor.
This shut the couple up, and the family enjoyed the rest of their dinner. Before they left, the entire restaurant gave them a round of applause and again congratulated the newly engaged couple. This would be one Veteran's Day they surely wouldn't forget.
Li Fei: Crystal Rao: Young Mulan Live Action.
Bravery is being the only one who knows you're afraid. Success is not final. Failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.
Motivation is the art of getting people to do what you want them to do because they want to do it.